"Don't be frightened," whispered Madelaine, whose voice sounded a little husky. "Here we are again!" cried Harry, reappearing close to the boat and spluttering the water from his lips, as with all the gaiety of a boy he looked mirthfully at the occupants of the boat. "Any orders for pearls, ladies?" "Don't be foolish, Harry," cried Louise, as he swam close to them. "Not going to be. I say, Leslie, take the boat-hook away from that fellow, or he'll be making a hole in the bottom of the boat." As he spoke, he laid a hand upon the gunwale and looked merrily from one to the other. "Don't touch me, girls. I'm rather damp," he said. "I say, what a capital bathing dress flannels make!" "Shall I help you in?" said Leslie. "No, thank ye, I'm all right. As I am in, I may as well have a swim." "No, no, Harry, don't be foolish," cried Louise. "There, you'd better hitch a rope round me, and tow me behind, or I shall swamp the boat." "Harry! what are you going to do?" cried Madelaine, as he looked his hold of the gunwale, and began to swim away. "Wait a bit and you'll see," he cried. "Leslie, you take care of the boat. I shan't be long." "But, Harry--" "All right, I tell you." "Where are you going?" "In here," he shouted back, and he swam straight to the low opening at the foot of the massive granite cliff, paddled a little at the mouth till the efflux of water was over, and then as a fresh wave came, he took a few strokes, gave a shout, and to the horror of the two girls seemed to be sucked right into the opening. As he disappeared, he gave another shout, a hollow strange echoing "Good-bye," and a few moments after there was a run back of the water and a hollow roar, and it needed very little exercise of the imagination to picture the rugged opening as the mouth of some marine monster into which the young man had passed. Volume 1, Chapter III. DISCORDS. "Don't be alarmed," said Leslie quietly; "I dare say it is like one of the zorns yonder, only the mouth is too narrow for a boat." "But it is so foolish," said Louise, giving him a grateful look. "Yes, but he swims so easily and well, there is nothing to mind. What are you going to do, Mr Pradelle?" "Work the boat close up so as to help him," said Pradelle shortly. "No, don't do that. We have had one escape from a capsize. We must keep out here in deep water." Pradelle frowned. "I think I know what I'm about, sir," he said sharply; "do you suppose I am going to sit here when my friend may be in danger?" "I have no doubt you know what you are about in London, sir," said Leslie quietly, "but this is not a pavement in the Strand, and it is not safe to take the boat closer." Pradelle was about to make some retort, but Louise interposed. "Try if you can get nearer the mouth of that dreadful place, Mr Leslie," she said, "I am getting terribly alarmed."